Swedes stumble, 34-20

Tuesday

Oct 9, 2012 at 11:23 AMOct 9, 2012 at 11:25 AM

Bethany's football team falls to 2-4

Staff Reports

LEAVENWORTH — The Saint Mary Spires were able to finish a surprising second in the KCAC last year by making a late-season rush.Maybe they’re doing it again.The Spires, who lost their first four games of the season, now have strung together back-to-back wins after a 34-20 victory over Bethany College Saturday afternoon.The Spires’ All-America candidate Mike Keese put up his usual numbers, completing 18 of 31 passes for 265 yards and four scores. He was augmented by a solid ground game, which produced 154 yards, something that had been missing earlier in the year.For the Swedes, the season is heading south in a hurry. They are now 1-3 in the conference and 2-4 overall, and have no bargain Saturday when red-hot Tabor comes to town.The Swedes’ defense, so good the first half of the season, is starting to show some cracks. After giving up more than 500 yards to Avila last week, Saint Mary had 419.Bethany used two quarterbacks, as Darby House and Zack Waggoner combined for 298 yards passing, with Brandon Martino catching 11 for 129 yards and a score.The Swedes’ Tevis Linnebur, the KCAC’s leading rusher starting the day, was held to 74 hard-earned yards on 21 carries. He had a rushing touchdown, as did House.STATISTICSBethany Listed FirstFirst Downs — 19, 24. Rushes-Yards — 31-48; 36-154. Passing — 27-44-0-291; 18-32-2-265. Punts-Avg. — 4-28.3; 1-45.0. Fumbles-Lost — 3-2; 2-1. Penalties-Yards — 6-39; 4-18.INDIVIDUALLEADERSRushingBethany — Linnebur 21-74, House 4-(-18), Johnson 3-(-9), Waggoner 1-0, Martino 1-0; Grist 1-(-1).Saint Mary — Hearn 15-81, Amos 7-28, Ryan 6-28, Keese 3-15, Mata 2-5, Team 2-(-3).PassingBethany — House 24-39-0-261, Waggoner 3-3-0-28.Saint Mary — Keese 18-31-0-265, Foster 0-1-0-0.ReceivingBethany — Martino 11-128, Johnson 9-72, Thompson 4-64, Wollenberg 3-26.Saint Mary — Young 8-121, Cooper 5-100, Ryan 2-13, Williams 1-17, Amos 1-8, Gomes 1-6.